We
highly recommend "Heyday
of the Movies in Conway" by William T. Goldfinch of Conway for
a wonderful first-person account of Conway's movie theatre history. While
we were able to locate information on microfilm of the Horry Herald newspaper,
much of what we have been able to uncover, came from Mr. Goldfinch's warm
narrative.

Casino
TheatreEast side of Main Street north of 4th Avenue
Closed around 1916

The first
movie theatre in Conway was the Casino Theatre located on Main Street
north of 4th Avenue. The original owner and theatre name are not known.
It was purchased by Mr. McQueen Quattlebaum who named it the Casino
Theatre. The earliest reference we have found is in the Horry County
Herald dated April 1, 1915. A very large illustrated advertisement
promoted the first episode of The Million Dollar Mystery starring
Florence LaBadie and James Cruze. This twenty-three episode serial from
the Thanhouser Film Corporation, told the story of a secret society
called The Black Hand and its attenpts to gain control of a lost million
dollars. Admission was 5 cents and 10 cents.

In June,
1915, the Casino Theatre advertised that a percent of the proceeds would
go to the Civic League.

On June
29, 1916, the Casino Theatre advertised to “Watch for the opening
installment” of Gloria’s Romance, a 20 episode
serial starring Billie Burke as Gloria Stafford. This George Kleine
Motion Picture Novel also starred Henry Kolker.

In July,
Gloria’s Romance continued with an all feature program.
In August, the promotion of Gloria’s Romance continued
with a listing of other films to be shown that week at the Casino Theatre.

According
to Mr. William T. Goldfinch of Conway, Mr. Quattlebaum closed the Casino
Theatre when the Pastime Opened.

Pastime
Theatre409 Main Street
1917 - 1936

The Pastime
Theatre was open in November, 1916, showing Gloria’s Romance.
It is likely that the serial was begun at the Casino Theatre and concluded
at the Pastime Theatre.

We can
conclude that the Casino Theatre closed and the Pastime Theatre opened
between October 6 and November 22, 1916.

The Pastime
Theatre was described by Mr. Goldfinch in a article written for the
Horry County Historical Society.

“The
front of the building was rather stark, lacking a marquee. Instead,
it had a sign in the shape of a “T” which hung out over
the sidewalk. It said “THEATRE” in large letters across
the top and “PASTIME” vertically beneath.

At the
entrance was an inset where the ticket office protruded. To its left
was the door to the auditorium. Out on the sidewalk was a door on the
right which led to the projection room and balcony.

When the
Pastime opened it was said to be a modern playhouse, the equal to any
in a town of Conway’s size. It was where the first sound movie
played in Conway. A record was utilized to be played while the reel
was shown. Coordinating the two was indeed a task. I am told the Pastime
was built by H.G. Cushman and managed by his father-in-law, A.B. McCoy.
In May, 1947, my chance to enter the theatre finally came! It was opened
in order to tear it down. I had previously dreamed about the interior
of the building and to my amazement it looked in minute detail exactly
as I had dreamed it would.

Time has
dimmed my memory of the details of the interior, but I do recall an
ornate stamped metal ceiling, side lights that protruded from each side
wall with scalloped frosted shades. The theatre was small and I doubt
if it had as many as three hundred seats. Its popcorn machine, which
could be seen through the ticket window from the street was still there
eleven years after its closing.

Pastime Theatre reopened on May 7, 1930 after renovations for
sound movies

Casino Theatre Ad
from
Horry County Herald
April 1, 1915

Casino Theatre Ad
from
Horry County Herald
June 17, 1915Pastime Theatre Ad
from
Horry County Herald
April 26, 1917

Opened
August 6, 1936. "Entrance to the main auditorium of the theatre
is from Main Street through a hundred and twenty foot lobby. This lobby
is very attractive with its terrazzo floor, stamped metal ceiling, rough
textured walls, and latest type of lightening fixtures and display stands.
Entrance to the balcony is from Fourth Avenue."

The Carolina
had a spacious stage and presented movies and, occassionaly, stage shows.

The Carolina
closed briefly in 1952 for renovation and reopened in 1953. Except for
a fire that caused its closure for six weeks in 1964, the Carolina Theatre
remained in operation until June 15, 1965.

Built by
H.G. Cushman, it was first managed by A.B. McCoy. It was sold in 1940,
to B.B. Anderson of Mullins, owner of the Anderson Theatre Company.
Later the Hollidays of Galivants Ferry acquired an interest in it. In
1958, operation of the Carolina Theatre was taken over by Stewart and
Everett Theatres of Charlotte, NC.

Holliday
Theatre
335 Main Street

Opened
October 1, 1947. According to Mr. Goldfinch, the theatre was built by
Joseph W. Holliday and John Monroe J. Holliday of Galivants Ferry as
a memorial to their father, George J. Holliday. It had 650 seats, a
"cry" room for mothers with small children, and certain seats
were said to be larger than others to accommodate more robust patrons.

The Holliday
Theatre abruptly closed in 1948 and reopened in 1952. The, it closed
again in 1953 and reopened in 1954. Then, in 1955, it closed for ten
years. It reopened for eleven months as a second-run theatre.

In 1965,
the theatre was completely renovated. By the time it closed, in August,
1986, it had deteriorated. After it closed, it was briefly used as a
church. In January, 1990, it was destroyed by fire.

It has
since been rebuilt as the Main Street Theatre, home of the reportory
group, Theatre of the Republic.

Dance with Me Henry showing at the Holliday Theater - 1957

Holliday Theater - Conway, SC - 1955

Hillside
TheatreRace Path Street near Highway 378

In 1947,
the Horry Herald announced the construction of "a theatre for the
colored people of Conway." The Hillside Theatre operated off and
on until the mid-1950s. It had a plain facade with neon outlining it.
There was a sign hanging vertically over the entrance which read, "Hillside
Theatre."